Elantris Flashcards
Enigmatic
adjective
mysterious and difficult to understand.
“haley studied her, an enigmatic smile on his face”
Illustrious
adjective
well known, respected, and admired for past achievements.
“his illustrious predecessor”
Nadir
noun
1. the lowest or most unsuccessful point in a situation.
“asking that question was the nadir of my career”
ASTRONOMY
2. the point on the celestial sphere directly below an observer.
Impetuous
adjective
1. acting or done quickly and without thought or care.
“she might live to rue this impetuous decision”
2. moving forcefully or rapidly.
“an impetuous but controlled flow of water”
Fastidious
adjective
1. very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail.
“she dressed with fastidious care”
2. very concerned about matters of cleanliness.
“the child seemed fastidious about getting her fingers dirty”
Acumen
noun
the ability to make good judgements and take quick decisions.
“she hides a shrewd business acumen”
Averse
adjective
having a strong dislike of or opposition to something.
“as a former CIA director, he is not averse to secrecy”
Somber
adjective
1. dark or dull in colour or tone.
“the night skies were sombre and starless”
2. having or conveying a feeling of deep seriousness and sadness.
“he looked at her with a sombre expression”
Foppish
adjective
concerned with one’s clothes and appearance in an affected and excessive way (typically used of a man).
“he is foppish and vain”
Trepidation
noun
1. a feeling of fear or anxiety about something that may happen.
“the men set off in fear and trepidation”
ARCHAIC
2. trembling movements or motion.
Clamor
noun
a loud and confused noise, especially that of people shouting.
“the questions rose to a clamour”
verb
(of a group of people) shout loudly and insistently.
“the surging crowds clamoured for attention”
Ecclesiastic
noun
a priest or member of the clergy.
adjective
another term for ecclesiastical.
Indolent
adjective
1. wanting to avoid activity or exertion; lazy.
“they were indolent and addicted to a life of pleasure”
MEDICINE
2. (of a disease or condition) causing little or no pain.
Prosaic
adjective
1. having or using the style or diction of prose as opposed to poetry; lacking imaginativeness or originality.
“prosaic language can’t convey the experience”
2. commonplace; unromantic.
“the masses were too preoccupied by prosaic day-to-day concerns”
Astute
adjective
having or showing shrewdness and an ability to notice and understand things clearly; mentally sharp or clever.
“an astute observer”
Morose
adjective
sullen and ill-tempered.
“she was morose and silent when she got home”
Exuberant
adjective
1. full of energy, excitement, and cheerfulness.
“a noisy bunch of exuberant youngsters”
2. characterized by a vigorously imaginative artistic style.
“exuberant, over-the-top sculptures”
LITERARY
3. growing luxuriantly or profusely.
“exuberant foliage”
Diminutive
adjective
extremely or unusually small.
“a diminutive figure dressed in black”
noun
a diminutive word or suffix.
Unconscionable
adjective
1. not right or reasonable.
“the unconscionable conduct of his son”
2. unreasonably excessive.
“shareholders have had to wait an unconscionable time for the facts to be established”
Penitance
noun
the action of feeling or showing sorrow and regret for having done wrong; repentance.
“a public display of penitence”
Avaricious
adjective
having or showing an extreme greed for wealth or material gain.
“avaricious corporate bosses looking to maximize profits”
Contrived
adjective
1. deliberately created rather than arising naturally or spontaneously.
2. created or arranged in a way that seems artificial and unrealistic.
“the ending of the novel is too pat and contrived”
Belligerent
adjective
hostile and aggressive.
“the mood at the meeting was belligerent”
noun
a nation or person engaged in war or conflict, as recognized by international law.
“ships and goods captured at sea by a belligerent”
Resolve
verb
1. settle or find a solution to (a problem or contentious matter).
“the firm aims to resolve problems within 30 days”
2. decide firmly on a course of action.
“she resolved to ring Dana as soon as she got home”
noun
1. firm determination to do something.
“she received information that strengthened her resolve”
US
2. a formal resolution by a legislative body or public meeting.
Veneration
noun
great respect; reverence.
“the traditional veneration of saints”
Formidable
adjective
inspiring fear or respect through being impressively large, powerful, intense, or capable.
“a formidable opponent”
Receptacle
noun
1. a hollow object used to contain something.
“fast-food receptacles”
NORTH AMERICAN
2. an electrical socket.
Peruse
verb FORMAL
1. read (something), typically in a thorough or careful way.
“he has spent countless hours in libraries perusing art history books and catalogues”
2. examine carefully or at length.
“Laura perused a Caravaggio”
Abashed
adjective
embarrassed, disconcerted, or ashamed.
“Harriet looked slightly abashed”
Resolute
adjective
admirably purposeful, determined, and unwavering.
“she was resolute and unswerving”
Sullen
adjective
bad-tempered and sulky.
“a sullen pout”
noun ARCHAIC
a sulky or depressed mood.
Destitute
adjective
1. extremely poor and lacking the means to provide for oneself.
“the charity cares for destitute children”
2. not having.
“towns destitute of commerce”
Muss
verb
make (someone’s hair or clothes) untidy or messy.
“the wind was mussing up his hair”
Deliberation
noun
1. long and careful consideration or discussion.
“after much deliberation we arrived at a compromise”
2. slow and careful movement or thought.
“he replaced the glass on the table with deliberation”
Rectify
verb
1. put right; correct.
“mistakes made now cannot be rectified later”
2. convert (alternating current) to direct current.
“the current from the transformers is rectified by high-voltage diodes”
Reproving
adjective
conveying or expressing blame or disapproval.
“a reproving glance”
Aloof
adjective
1. not friendly or forthcoming; cool and distant.
“they were courteous but faintly aloof”
2. conspicuously uninvolved.
“he stayed aloof from the bickering”
Beckon
verb
1. make a gesture with the hand, arm, or head to encourage or instruct someone to approach or follow.
“Miranda beckoned to Adam”
2. summon (someone) by beckoning to them.
“he beckoned Cameron over”
3. appear attractive or inviting.
“the going is tough and soft options beckon”
Perplexed
adjective
completely baffled; very puzzled.
“she gave him a perplexed look”
Injunction
noun
1. an authoritative warning or order.
LAW
2. a judicial order restraining a person from beginning or continuing an action threatening or invading the legal right of another, or compelling a person to carry out a certain act, e.g. to make restitution to an injured party.
Courteous
adjective
polite, respectful, or considerate in manner.
“she was courteous and obliging to all”
Bestowal
noun
1. the act of conferring an honor or presenting a gift
2. a gift that is bestowed or conferred
Affable
adjective
friendly, good-natured, or easy to talk to.
“an affable and agreeable companion”
Subterfuge
noun
deceit used in order to achieve one’s goal.
“he had to use subterfuge and bluff on many occasions”
Despot
noun
a ruler or other person who holds absolute power, typically one who exercises it in a cruel or oppressive way.
Sardonic
adjective
grimly mocking or cynical.
“Starkey attempted a sardonic smile”
Astuteness
noun
the quality of being particularly discerning, clever, cunning, or ingenious.
“a considerable level of commercial astuteness and sales expertise is required for effective negotiation”
Adulterate
verb
render (something) poorer in quality by adding another substance.
“the brewer is said to adulterate his beer”
Boisterous
adjective
1. noisy, energetic, and cheerful.
“a group of boisterous lads”
2. (of weather or water) wild or stormy.
“the boisterous wind was lulled”
Withering
adjective
1. intended to make someone feel humiliated; scornful.
“a withering look”
2. (of heat) intense; scorching.
“protective cover to escape withering heat”
Carnal
adjective
relating to physical, especially sexual, needs and activities.
“carnal desire”
Incantation
noun
1. a series of words said as a magic spell or charm.
“an incantation to raise the dead”
2. the use of words as a magic spell.
“there was no magic in such incantation”
Abject
adjective
1. (of something bad) experienced or present to the maximum degree.
“his letter plunged her into abject misery”
2. (of a person or their behaviour) completely without pride or dignity; self-abasing.
“an abject apology”
Abate
verb
1. (of something unpleasant or severe) become less intense or widespread.
“the storm suddenly abated”
2. make (something) less intense.
“nothing abated his crusading zeal”
LAW
3. reduce or remove (a nuisance).
“this action would not have been sufficient to abate the odour nuisance”
Dissemble
verb
1. conceal or disguise one’s true feelings or beliefs.
“an honest, sincere person with no need to dissemble”
2. disguise or conceal (a feeling or intention).
“she smiled, dissembling her true emotion”
Overwrought
adjective
1. in a state of nervous excitement or anxiety.
“she was too overwrought to listen to reason”
2. (of a piece of writing or a work of art) too elaborate or complicated in design or construction.
“a pseudo-Gothic church far too overwrought for such a small town”
Contrition
noun
1. the state of feeling remorseful and penitent.
“to show contrition for his crime he offered to do community service”
2. (in the Roman Catholic Church) the repentance of past sins during or after confession.
“prayers of contrition”
Jeer
verb
make rude and mocking remarks, typically in a loud voice.
“some of the younger men jeered at him”
noun
a rude and mocking remark.
“the taunts and jeers of my classmates”
Beseech
verb LITERARY
ask (someone) urgently and fervently to do something; implore; entreat.
“they beseeched him to stay”
Wistful
adjective
having or showing a feeling of vague or regretful longing.
“a wistful smile”
Sonorous
adjective
1. (of a person’s voice or other sound) imposingly deep and full.
“he read aloud with a sonorous and musical voice”
2. capable of producing a deep or ringing sound.
“the alloy is sonorous and useful in making bells”
3. (of a speech or style) using imposing language.
“he relished the sonorous words of condemnation”
